The Best Car Racks for Your Electric Bike

August 8, 2017

Believe it or not, more bikes are damaged while they are being transported using another vehicle than they are when they’re doing the transporting. Scratches, dents, crimped cables and even broken derailleurs or spokes are more often caused by putting a bicycle in the back of a truck, in a trunk or on a poorly designed bike rack than when we’re riding them.
At Pedego Canada we’re regularly asked what are the best car racks for your electric bike. There are two important things we tell people:
#1. You’ll want a platform rack that mounts to a trailer hitch. The reason being is that racks which sit on top of the roof of your car are too high to reach and those that rest on the trunk or hatchback of your vehicle are not robust enough to take the weight of an electric bike. Platforms distribute weight best, are easiest to load and minimize any damage due to car movement.
#2. Ideally, you’ll want a 2-inch trailer hitch. A smaller hitch will typically result in more side to side movement of the rack with the heavier bikes. A 2″ trailer hitch allows you to carry multiple ebikes without wobbles and ensure your electric bicycle investment is safe and secure.
After extensive research with multiple brands of bike racks, these are the best car racks for your electric bike.

Thule Easyfold

The best part about the Thule Easyfold platform bike rack is it comes with a ramp so you can easily roll your electric bike up and onto it. In this video, Ruby, the co-owner of of Pedego Qualicum Beach, shows just how easy it is.

As the name suggests, the Thule Easyfold is completely foldable for easy handling and storage. However, an important thing to note is the rack itself is robust (it can carry up to two 65-pound ebikes) but that also means it’s heavy so you’ll want to take care installing it.
The adjustable grip handles allow you to secure any style of bike from an Interceptor Step-Thru to the Ridge Rider and the wide tire trays can accommodate all bikes including the Trail Tracker no problem. Another great detail is the foot-operated lever, which allows you to tilt the fully-loaded rack down and away from the bumper so you can easily open the back hatch.

Swagman Escapee

Another hitch-mounted platform bike rack that we really like is the Swagman Escapee. Swagman is a company based in Penticton, British Columbia and it is responsible for a variety of different styles of bike racks but we’ve found the Escapee to be the most robust – it can easily carry two 50+ pound ebikes. An added bonus is that they are RV rated. Also, the Escapee, with its wheel clamp system, works really well with low step-thru bikes such as the Boomerang, which can be challenging on other types of racks.
The other thing we like about the Swagman hitch-mounted platform racks is they’re not situated too high off the ground so it’s easy to lift the front end and then the rear end of the electric bike to get it into the platforms.
As always, if you have any questions are comments regarding this article, please leave us a note below or email us at info@pedegocanada.ca. And to learn more about security for your electric bike, including locks and insurance, read our article, “Everything you need to know about security for your electric bike.”